John O: Cousin Minnie can run vs. Gwen

CEBU - Former Senator John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña said yesterday that he has no more plans to join politics, but suggests that his cousin, Minnie Osmeña be fielded as a candidate for governor in 2010.

“I have no plans. Mamuhi na lang ko ug baka,” said Osmeña in an ambush interview yesterday at the Cebu City Hall, wherein he attended the necrological service and mass for the late Cebu City Mayor Eulogio E. Borres, Sr.

Osmeña, a former Cebu City mayor said that he would rather tend his cows in Dumaguete City rather than join politics again.

Osmeña entered politics as a Cebu City Councilor in 1963. In 1968, he became the vice mayor of the city and was elected as congressman in Cebu’s second district in 1969.

Osmeña was appointed as officer-in-charge mayor of Cebu City in 1986. He was elected as senator in 1987 and in 1992. In 1995, he was elected as congressman in Cebu’s third district and was elected again as senator in 1998.

He ran for senator in the 2004 and 2007 elections, but lost in both.

He also downplayed reports he will join the congressional race.

But instead the former senator said in a jest that it best for Minnie, the sister of Cebu City Mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña, to run for governor against Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in the 2010 elections.

“Si Minnie mas mayo mudagan ug pagka gobernador kontra ni Gwen kay parehas silang mga babaye,” the former senator said. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)